Arlene Arkinson Inquest: girlfriend of child killer Robert Howard feared she ‘could have been his next’

Robert Howard.

Published:14:23Monday 14 March 2016

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A former girlfriend of child killer Robert Howard has said she feared she could have been his next victim.

Patricia Quinn told a Coroner’s Court in Belfast she was locked in a room for two days while visiting the paedophile in Scotland.

She also described Howard as an evil, manipulative charmer to whom she was vulnerable.

She said: “For two days he kept me locked in. He kept the keys down the front of his trousers.

“Only he fell asleep, I could have been the next one.”

The inquest is investigating the death of missing teenager Arlene Arkinson from Castlederg in Co Tyrone, who vanished after a night out across the border in Co Donegal in August 1994.

The schoolgirl was last seen in a car with Howard, who was acquitted of her murder in 2005 by a jury that was not made aware of his conviction for murdering 14-year-old Hannah Williams from South London several years earlier.

He remained the prime suspect until his death in prison last year aged 71.

Mrs Quinn was giving evidence to the inquest for a second time. She was previously excused after claiming the stress of the case had made her contemplate suicide.

The court heard how she had visited Howard after he fled following the schoolgirl’s disappearance in October 1994.

She had gone to Scotland and stayed for a fortnight, having been subjected to intimidation in her home town, the court heard.

“For two days I was closed in,” she added. “I couldn’t get out. Only I kept my cool, I could have been his next victim.”

Mrs Quinn later claimed that police in Northern Ireland had been informed about her ordeal but did not take it seriously.